Tamworth

Tamworth's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. At the same time there were changes in average age, religion and family life.

The population reached nearly 77,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Tamworth increased by 3.1%, from about 74,500 to 76,800.

The addition of almost 2,300 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tamworth was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tamworth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tamworth increased by four years, from 35 to 39 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the West Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 2,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 11% of people in Tamworth are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Tamworth

The number of people in Tamworth that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 12,000 in 2001 to about 23,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 15% to 29% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Tamworth that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 57,000 in 2001 to about 49,000 in 2011 (from 77% to 63%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 5,100 to just under 4,700 (from 6.9% to 6.1%).

Just over 260 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from just over 130 in 2001 (0.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Tamworth increased by 14 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

Tamworth saw the West Midlands' largest rise in the proportion of households without children.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) households in Tamworth had no children, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 35% to 32%.

Across the region, Wyre Forest saw the next largest increase in the proportion of households without children (from 60% in 2001 to 64% in 2011).

During this period, Tamworth fell below four local authority areas, including Walsall and Birmingham, to become the West Midlands local authority area with the fifth-lowest percentage of households without children.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Tamworth residents that were studying increased from 2.6% to 2.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (58%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 60% in 2001. The percentage of Tamworth residents that were unemployed increased from 3.6% to 4.5%.

The proportion of students decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the West Midlands. The improvement brought health in Tamworth close to the regional average 3.3% in the West Midlands described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of students was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Tamworth

The number of people in Tamworth from the White ethnic groups decreased from about 73,000 in 2001 to just under 75,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Tamworth from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 490 in 2001 to just over 800 in 2011 (from 0.7% to 1.1%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 500 to just over 760 (from 0.7% to 1.0%).

Just over 390 people (0.5%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from just over 370 in 2001 (0.5%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Tamworth remained close to 97%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Tamworth by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links